Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Bean for his question. On 1 July we had the increase of 3.5 per cent in wages, we had paid parental leave with an additional two weeks, and we had superannuation paid for the first time on paid parental leave. Importantly, we had the $10,000 incentives kick in for apprentices to do construction, following on what we'd already done with the new energy apprenticeships. We had paid prac for teachers, nurses and people doing social work degrees as well. We had the subsidies for batteries so that solar panels could store energy in order to take pressure off the grid, but, importantly, they will also reduce household energy bills. Already 11,000 households have taken it up. This week we have delivered on critical commitments that we've made, cutting student debt by 20 per cent, benefiting three million Australians by an average of $5,500 each. We have introduced today the legislation to protect penalty rates for 2.6 million workers, making an enormous difference. And, importantly—something that perhaps when people leave here tonight they can have a shout over—freezing the draught beer excise was introduced today. It's an extremely popular measure, I might say, Mr Speaker, including in the electorate of Oxley, I'm sure! People will have a cheer for that.

We are focused on the Australian people. We're focused on delivering the policies we took to the election to make Australians' lives better. Meanwhile, those opposite have been focused on themselves. They're more divided and chaotic than ever. We had the member for Hume being focused on foreign policy on the fly, sabre rattling. Yesterday, we were too pro-China with the questions; today we're too pro-America, apparently, with the changes that have come in.

Now, of course, we've seen the National Party. I'm surprised they have taken a break from the Sky News studio! There were 16 interviews in the last 24 hours—16 back to back, with the Nats talking about themselves non-stop. We'll continue to focus on the needs of Australians; they'll continue to be focused on themselves.

On that note, after a request from those opposite—

Speak to your leader. He shut you down. I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.

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